Tenant FAQs

We are always delighted to answer any questions you many have regarding the lettings process or the support we offer.

Below is a list of frequently asked questions, please feel free to contact us if your question has not been addressed.

Where do I begin when looking for a property?

There are two key points to consider when looking for a new property the first is your available budget and the second point to consider is your requirements for the property.

Budget

It is important to make sure you have sufficient income to not only pay the rent but also the utilities (council tax, water rates, electric and gas) and enough left over to cover your other outgoings (food, clothes, car insurance, etc.) In order to be approved for a property your annual income should be at least 30 times the monthly rent for the property and if you do not have an income sufficient to cover this then you may need to provide a Guarantor.

Specific property requirements

Once you have worked out what your available budget is the next thing to consider is any specific requirements you may have. The list below is by no means exhaustive however it should give you a few initial points to consider:

How many bedrooms, bathrooms and other rooms do you require?

Are you looking for a property in a particular town, in a school catchment area, within walking distance of a bus stop or train station?

Do you wish to keep any pets at the property? Many rental properties will not allow pets due to restrictions on the head lease or the landlord’s preferences so it is important to mention if you have a pet when looking for a suitable property.

Do you require a garage or driveway at the property and if so how many cars will you need to be able to park?

Do you require a garden? Most houses will come with a garden which the tenant will be responsible for the upkeep of whereas most flats will have a communal garden for the use of all tenants in the block and the upkeep will be arranged by the building maintenance company.

What do reference checks involve?

At County Property Management we arrange for references to be carried out by a specialist credit reference agency who carry out the following checks:

Credit check

They will check whether you have any adverse credit history, such as County Court Judgments and Bankruptcies and Insolvencies.

Previous property checks

If you rented a property previously they will obtain a reference from the previous landlord which will confirm if you left the property in a reasonable condition and complied with the terms of your tenancy, the amount of rent you paid and if there were any arrears during the tenancy.

Employment checks

They will confirm that you are working for the company you have stated, the position you hold, how long you have been employed, your current salary and whether you are on a permanent contract.

Company reference checks

If the potential tenant is a company then they will obtain references on them to assess their creditworthiness and who in the company is authorised to sign the contract on behalf of the businesses.

What proofs of ID and address are required?

Proof of ID

Photographic ID is required to prove you are the person you say you are and can sign a tenancy agreement. Acceptable proof of ID:

Passport

Driving license (photo card)

EEA identity card

Proof of address

Is required to show you have been living at the address you have stated on your application form. Acceptable proof of address:

credit card bill

phone bill

utility bill

driving license (cannot be used if also being used as proof of ID)

Proof of right to rent

The Right to Rent was introduced in the Immigration Act 2014 to ensure anyone renting a property in the UK has the right to rent property in the country. In order to prove the right to rent we will need to see an original of one of the following documents at the time you sign the tenancy agreement. Acceptable proof of Right to Rent:

UK Passport

EEA identity card

Biometric residence permit with unlimited leave or valid time limited period

Passport endorsed with unlimited leave or valid time limited period

UK immigration status document with a time limited endorsement from Home Office

If you are unable to supply one of these please let us know as there are some other documents or combinations of two or more documents which can be used instead.

What is the deposit for?

At the time the tenancy commences you will be required to pay a deposit which is normally the equivalent of a month and a half rent. The deposit will be placed in a custodial or insured scheme which protects the money for the term of the tenancy.

At the end of the tenancy, deductions may be made from the deposit for a variety of reasons such as rental arrears or damage to the property. After the checkout report is completed at the property this will be passed to the landlord who will decide if they feel any deductions are required from the deposit. If the landlord believes there are grounds for deductions to be made you will be provided with a list of proposed deductions from the deposit? If you agree with these deductions the deposit is returned less the agreed deductions. If you are not in agreement with the proposed deductions we will review the evidence and attempt to reach an agreement between yourself and the landlord. If an agreement still cannot be reached then it will be passed to the Deposit Protection Service’s dispute resolution service who will review the evidence and make a binding decision regarding the deposit.

How to report maintenance issues or emergencies?

The landlord is responsible for maintenance of the structure of the premises, space heating, water heating, toilets, basins, sinks and baths and installations for the supply of water, electricity and gas. The landlord is also to keep in repair and proper working order all mechanical and electrical items forming part of the fixtures and fittings, unless the lack of repair is due to the negligence or misuse of the tenant, their family, or visitors.

As a tenant you have an obligation to inform the landlord, or the agent, as soon as it comes to your attention, any repairs or other matters falling within the landlord’s obligations to repair the premises.

If the property is fully managed then you can report any maintenance issues in writing, by email or by phone during office hours. In the event of an emergency such as a burst water pipe, gas leak or fire at the property we provide a 24 hour emergency helpline which will be explained at the time you move into the property.

If the landlord is managing the property themselves then you will be provided with details of how to report maintenance issues and what to do in the event of an emergency at the time you are signed into the property.

Who is responsible for the payment of utilities?

Unless otherwise stated you will be responsible for the payment of all utilities at the property (gas, electric, water and council tax). At the time you are signed into the property meter readings will be taken and the utility companies will be informed of these and given your contact details, they will then write to you to provide details of the tariffs and how to make payments. As you are responsible for the utilities you are entitled to change suppliers to any company you choose however we request that you let us know who the current supplier is when you vacate the property.

What happens at the end of the fixed term?

At the end of the initial fixed term of the tenancy there are three ways of proceeding:

The tenant or the landlord can serve notice on the other party and bring the tenancy to an end.

Either party can request a renewal for a new fixed period and renegotiate terms however in order to proceed both parties will need to be in agreement.
If neither party takes any action then the tenancy will automatically become a periodic tenancy and the tenancy will continue under the original terms and conditions, on a monthly basis.

We will write to you three months before the end of your tenancy to remind you it is due to expire and discuss your options.

Ready to talk?

Check our Properties for rent page or use our Tenant registration form to receive alerts on any new properties as they are added.